Kansas City Public Library Again Earns Star Library Designation

For Immediate Release:November 21, 2012

Contact:
Robert Butler816.701.3729

Kansas City Public Library Again Earns Star Library Designation

The Kansas City Public Library has been named one of America's Star Libraries for a fourth straight year by the trade publication Library Journal, earning four out of a possible five stars for the third time in as many years.

Libraries were assigned to categories based on their annual budget. The Kansas City Public Library ranked 14th out of more than 100 libraries with annual expenditures of $10 million to $29.9 million.

Thirty libraries in the Kansas City Public Library's expenditure category earned the Star Library designation. The top 10 were awarded five stars, the second 10 were awarded four stars, and the third 10 were awarded three stars. The Kansas City Public Library finished just 42 points shy of the top 10 and a five-star designation.

This latest honor came as no surprise to KCPL director Crosby Kemper III, who said: "An excellent staff and great community support continue to sustain a great library."

Among the findings:

The KCPL circulated 9.6 books per capita.

Recorded 10.6 visits per capita.

Experienced program attendance of .57 per capita.

Showed public internet terminal use of 3.2 per capita.

These numbers were virtually the same as last year, except in the recorded visits caterory, which rose from 10.5 per capita to 10.6.

Kansas city was one of just five Libraries in Missouri to earn the Star Library designation.

Others include:

Over $30 million in expenditures: Mid-Continent Public Library (four stars).

$10 million-$29.9 millionSpringfield-Greene County Library District in Missouri (three stars).

$400,000-$999,999:North Kansas City Public Library (five stars).

$100,000-$199,999:Central (Missouri) Public Library (five stars).

The rankings are sponsored by Baker & Taylor's Bibliostat, the world's largest firm supplying physical and digital books, video, and music products to public libraries.